Floating dry-dock.



W. T. DONNBLLY. rLoATmG DRY nocx.

APPLIGATIOB FILED AUGJB, 190B.

Patented May 4, 1909.

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W. T. DONNBLLY. ILOATING DRY DOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.18, 1908.

Patented May 4, 1909.

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W. T. DONNELLY.

FLOATING DRY DOCK.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 1a, 190e.

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WILLIAM THOMAS DONNELLY, OF BROOKLYN, 'NEW YORK.

FLOATING DRY-DOCK.

Specification o Letters Patent.

Application led August 18, 1908. Serial No. L49,120.

Patented May 4, 1909.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, INiLLiAM THOMAS DONNELLY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented ecrtain new and useful Improvements in ricating Dry-Docks, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling the raising and lowering of floating dry docks.

My invention relates particularly to a manner of simplifying the construction and operation of large floating dry docks, and deals with a method of so arranging the flood-gates and pumping machinery, that in operation, the manipulation or control of the dock and vessel is precisely similar in raising and lowering. To accomplish this, I divide ,the dock into a numler of separate watertight compartments and provide for each, a single valve or gate, which controls both the in-low and out-flow of water and further enables the control of the rise of the dock to be independent of the operation of the pumpinfT machinery.

It will he understood that in the larger size of docks, upward of 100 feet wide and several hundred feet in length, it becomes difficult to quickly and positively control com licated system of machinery and gates, invo ving the safety of dock and vessel hence, the importance of simplicity in construction and operation.

Heretofore, an entirely different system of control has applied to the raising and lowering of floating dry docks, but with the apparatus and method herein described, the control 0f the lowering and raising of the dock is precisely similar, and any'slill or facility acquired is equally applicable to both operations.

In the drawings: Figure 1, is a plan view of a floating dry dock having my invention applied. Fig. 2, a side view thereof. Fig. 3, a transverse vertical sectional view, on an enlarged scale and partly in section, of one of the pontoons having my invention applied.

Like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the ligures of the drawinO's illustrating my invention.

tlteferring to the drawings, 1. represents the floating dry dock which, as shown in the accompanying drawings, comprises four hollow pontoons 2, but the number thereof may be varied according to requirements. These pontoons are connected at their ends by walls or wings 3, mounted upon their decks and secured thereto in any suitahlc manner.

The usual centrally located keel-blocks 4- and laterally located lingo-blocks 5 are. provided upon the decks of the iontoons, and interiorly each pontoon is divided by a transverse water-tight bulkhead 6 into two compartments 7 and 8.

A combined inlet and outlet opening 9 is provided in each end wall of cach pontoon, and said openings are opened and closed by gates or valves 10 raised and lowered by means of vertical rods 1l mounted in brackets 12 on the sides and pontoons, the lower ends of said rods being secured to said. valves and the upper ends being screw-a threaded and provided with hand wheels 13 by which they are operated. A centrifugal pump 14. of any suitable size and design is mounted .in each water-tight compartment of the pontoons, the openings 15 into the bodies 16 of the. casings thereof being secured in registry with thc openings 9 in the end walls of the pontoons and serving as combined outlets and inlets for the pumps to and from the exterior of the pontoons and the openings 17 into the branches or feet 1S of the casings, serving as combined outlets and inlets for the pumps to and from the interior of the pontoons, from which construetion and arrangement it will be apparent that water can be readily admitted to and discharged from each compartment of the pontoons through its individual pump, which constitutes a combined inlet ahd outlet therefor, thus obviating the necessity for an eXtra gato in each wmpartment of the pontoons to flood it.

The wheels of the pumps are secured on the lower ends of vertical shafts 1Q, journaled in bearings 2() on the pontoons and wings, and having bevel gears 21 on their upper ends meshing with bevel gears 22 on the horizontal shafts 23, journalcd in bearings Zel on the tops of the wings, and driven by any suitable power, such, for instance, as electricity or compressed air, thereby affording means for driving all the pumps on each side together.

It will be understood that the smaller thc openings to the pontoons the smaller the amount of water allowed to enter or depart therefrom and the longer the time required to raise or lower the dock, and that the larger the openings to the pontoons the 

